The Exploris School
Minutes
The Exploris School Board Regular Monthly Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 22, 2022 at 4:30 PM
Location
Virtual on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7076277567
LOCATION: VIRTUAL https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7076277567
Directors Present
A. Cioffi (remote), A. Rodriguez (remote), D. Deaton (remote), E. Buchan (remote), E. Grunden (remote), J. Hwang (remote), L. Friedman (remote), M. West (remote), R. Boyce (remote), S. Darroch (remote), T. Kingsberry (remote)
Directors Absent
C. Napier, M. Townley
Ex Officio Members Present
D. Brown (remote), E. Burton (remote), J. Corbat (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
D. Brown (remote), E. Burton (remote), J. Corbat (remote)
Guests Present
K. Morgan (remote), M. Parkerson (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve January Minutes
D.
Public Comment
II. Leadership Report
A.
Leadership Report
1. Exploris Leadership Team Report: included in packet
• Student enrollment updates
• Student support updates
• School programming and academic initiatives
• Recruitment and Lottery Update
• Campus updates
2. Personnel and Operations
• No new personnel items
• Board approval is requested for adjustments to the 2021-2022 calendar to accommodate end of year testing (Tabled to March meeting)
• Board approval is requested for the contract for the 6th grade Astrocamp trip. (Contract is in the packet.)
3. Covid Updates
• Mandatory monthly vote on wearing masks in school: Board approval is requested to continue requiring universal masking indoors at the Exploris Middle School campus and both indoors and outdoors at the Exploris Elementary campus.
• COVID response updates ◦ required monthly vote on masking
◦ Move to 5+5 quarantine/mask policy: not recommended at this time (see 8th grade for test case)
◦ Proposed metrics for moving to mask optional: 75% fully vaccinated rate, under 10% positivity rate in Wake County, Wake County drops indoor mask mandate.
4. Kaizen Team Update
- Completing Crucial Conversations with Michelle Parkerson
- Climate and culture survey to all staff
- Started instructional rounds
- Start new groups for reviewing school aspects
- Parents pay the fee and scholarships (out of school budget) are available for those who need support with the fee.
AMENDMENT #1 - If the Free the Smiles bill is passed (or any other bill that passes that doesn't allow a mandatory mask policy), it becomes law and overrides any protocol set by Exploris and we will follow state law. Masks can still be worn by choice and not required.
AMENDMENT #2 - Optional Masking metrics: 75% fully vaccinated rate, at or below 10% positivity rate in Wake County, Wake County drops indoor mask mandate. Leadership has 5 school days to enforce changes.
AMENDMENT #3- Use Wake County website for metrics on county Covid cases and percentages.
B.
Finance
K. Morgan shared monthly budget report and updates.
III. Board Business
A.
Discussion Items
D. Deaton provided a PTO update on recent and upcoming events.
IV. Committee Reports
A.
Governance Committee
M. Parkerson shared the outline and process of the North Carolina Standards for School Administrators to use for our Leadership evaluations, along with next steps to proceed with the Governance committee.
B.
Education Excellence Committee
E. Burton provided an update on EVAAS results, MOY benchmarks, and next steps on the results from the multi-tiered system.
V. Closed Session: legal and facilities updates
A.
Closed Session
Facilities updates were provided during this closed session.
Email submission from Stacey Carothers was read by Steven Darroch regarding current Covid protocol at Exploris in comparison to other neighboring Charter schools. She encouraged taking this data into consideration with our next Covid protocol plans.